Benny's US Visit

Pope Benedict XVI's Itinerary
Times are Eastern Daylight Time

Tuesday, April 15 • Washington, D.C.
4:00 p.m. - Arrival at Andrews Air Force BasePope Benedict XVI arrives at Andrews Air Force Base. He is greeted by President George Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush.

Wednesday, April 16 • Washington, D.C.
Pope Benedict XVI’s 81st Birthday
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Meeting with the President at the White HousePresident George Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush welcome Pope Benedict XVI to the White House. The welcome will be on the South Lawn of the White House before approximately 5,000 people. This is only the second time in history that a pontiff has visited the White House.
10:30 a.m. - Arrival of Pope Benedict XVI and South Lawn activities
11:15 a.m. - Pope Benedict XVI and President Bush meet for 45 minutes in private in the Oval Office
12:00 noon - Departure via popemobile - Parade route open to the general public. Click here for details.
5-7 p.m. - Vespers and Address to U.S. Bishops at the National Shrine
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic church in the United States and North America, and one of the ten largest churches in the world. It is the nation’s pre-eminent Marian shrine, dedicated to the patroness of the United States: the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception. Backgrounder on the National Shrine.
5:15 p.m. - Parade to the Basilica - beginning at 3211 4th St. NE. At end of route, popemobile travels the circle in front of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
5:30 p.m. - Vespers in the Crypt (lower area of the Shrine) with the bishops of the United States. Vespers, also called Evening Prayer, is part of the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office.
6:00 p.m. - Address to the bishops by Pope Benedict XVI.
7:00 p.m. - Program ends.

Thursday, April 17 • Washington, D.C.
10:00 a.m. - Mass at Nationals ParkThe Pope will celebrate Mass at the new Nationals Park in Washington. This will be the first non-baseball event in the park, which opened March 31.
5:00 p.m. - Address to Catholic Educators at The Catholic University of America (CUA)
6:15 p.m. - Departure - The Pope will enter the popemobile on the east (lower) side of the Przbyla Center and move through the campus of the Catholic University of America.
6:30 p.m. - Interreligious Gathering at the Pope John Paul II Cultural CenterThe Pope will meet with representatives of other religions on the theme “Peace Our Hope.”

Friday, April 18 • New York
8:30-10:00 a.m. - Movement to New York City
8:30 a.m. - Departure from Andrews Air Force Base.
9:45 a.m. - Arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport (Diocese of Brooklyn).
10:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. - Address to the United Nations at the United NationsDuring his scheduled three-hour visit to UN Headquarters.
6:00 p.m. - Ecumenical Prayer Service - Saint Joseph ParishSaint Joseph Parish
6:00 p.m. Greeting by Cardinal Edward M. Egan and Msgr. John Sullivan, administrator of Saint Joseph Parish.

Saturday, April 19 • New York
Third Anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s Pontificate
9-11:15 a.m. - Mass for Clergy and Religious at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
9:00 a.m. - Arrival and welcome at main entrance of Cathedral.
4:30 p.m. - Blessing of Youth with Disabilities at Saint Joseph Seminary.
5-6:30 p.m. - Rally with Seminarians and Young People at Saint Joseph SeminaryApproximately 25,000 young Catholics from throughout the United States.

Sunday, April 20 • New York
9:30 a.m. - Visit to Ground Zero - Site of the Former World Trade CenterThe Pope will visit the site of the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center, offer a blessing and greet representatives of the Port Authority, New York fire and police workers, those who survived the attacks, and family members who lost loved ones in the attack.
2:30 p.m. - Mass begins at Yankee Stadium
5:00 p.m. - Mass ends
8-8:30 p.m. - Departure from John F. Kennedy International AirportApproximately 3,250 guests will bid farewell to the Pope in Hangar 19 of JFK airport.
8:00 p.m. - The Pope arrives via motorcade.
8:30 p.m. - Departure via Shepherd One